eCommerce

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. on Thursday said its first-quarter profit dropped 22%, hurt by weakening foreign currencies.

The retailer earned $260 million in the three-month period ended May 3, down from $333 million in the year-ago period. Revenue increased 1.2% to $3.77 billion. Same-store sales were down 1%.

Nashville, Tenn. – Kirkland’s Inc. reported positive results for the first quarter of fiscal 2014. On a year-over-year basis, net income grew 17% to $2.1 million from $1.8 million.

Net sales increased 6.9% to $108.3 million compared with $101.2 million, and same-store sales grew 5%. The company was able to shake off the effects of bad weather in the early part of the quarter.

Jackonsville, Fla. -- Stein Mart on Thursday said it has appointed Sara Meza as director of e-commerce.

Meza came on board in April, following a 12-year tenure at Belk where she led the original launch of the retailer’s website business.

Sears plans to close at least 80 stores this year after widening its loss in the first quarter of fiscal 2014.

Although same-store sales increased 0.2% for the quarter, the company’s net loss climbed to $402 million from $279 million in the prior-year quarter. Revenues declined 7% to $7.9 billion, from $8.5 billion in the prior-year quarter.

Lynnwood, Wash. -- Teen active-sports retailer Zumiez reported net income in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 of $2.5 million, flat with the year-ago period. The retailer intends to open approximately 55 stores in fiscal 2014, including up to seven locations in Canada and five in Europe.

Total net sales for the first quarter ended May 3, 2014, increased 9.7% to $162.9 million from $148.5 million last year. Same-store sales increased 1.8%.

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us announced the appointment of Campbell Lennox as managing director, Toys “R” Us, Australia, effective May 26.

Lennox will oversee all operations and business activities for the company’s 34 store locations and e-commerce site, as well as provide leadership for the more than 1,700 employees throughout the country. His responsibilities will include marketing, merchandising, store operations and customer service excellence.

Overstock.com released a statement lamenting the decision of Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy to delay patent troll litigation reform legislation — the same legislation requested by President Obama and passed by the House of Representatives.

York, Pa. – Adverse weather that lasted longer into the first quarter of fiscal 2014 than anticipated bit into income and sales at The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. Net loss grew to $31.5 million from $26.6 million a year earlier, and net sales dropped 6% to $607.46 million from $647.9 million.

Same-store sales declined 5.8%. In addition to weather, the extinguishment of mortgage and senior note redemption debt also contributed to net loss growth.